Plate-glass-rolling apparatus



July 3, 1928. f@

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Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE. SHOWERS, OFiCHARLEROI, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGrNOB. T0 PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

PLATE-GLASS-ROLLING APPARATUS.

Application led January 29, 1,927. Serial No. 164,483.

The invention relates to glass rolling apparatus,'and particularly to a device for use in 4connection with `an intermittent rolling machine, such as that'shown in my Patent No. 1,57 9,666, issued April 6, 1926. In the operation of an apparatus, such as that specified, the forward edge of each sheet, as it emerges from between the rolls has a tendency to turn down and catch upon the end of the platen which constitutes the first portion of the runway for receiving the sheets, or, if rolls are used next to the oastingr'oll instead of the platen, the end of thel sheet will turn downward between the rolls. It has therefore beenA necessary, as each sheet is cast, to have an operative stationed opposite the platen to hold the advancing edge of the sheet up by the use of a hand bar, so that it does not catch on the edge of the platen and sov that it does not subsequently turn downward between the rolls of the runway which follow the platen. This involves a large amount of labor and is a matter of some diiiculty due to the rapid advance of the sheet, ranging from 30 to 50 feet per minute.,| If the sheet end is not held up in the manner specified, and as a result catches on the edge of the plate, its movement will either be stopped or the end will turn back upon itself so that it cannot be flattened, thus causing a loss of product.

. The resent invention is designed to overcome t e difficulty` above set forth, and has for its object the provision of a simple, easily operated device, which will uide and support'pthe end of thesheet unti 'it passes the edge of the platen, and will also (hill ass, thus reducing its tendency to turn Lownw'ard afterv the supporting device with- The sup orting device is in the form o a plate, a apted to be inserted into the pass between the casting rolls just before l'the body `of molten glass to be rolled is poured into the he plate issgita 1y supported and moved by operatingiechaniam, so that it is Awithdrawn from the pass and acts' as va support for the advancing end of the sheet eing formed. After such end passes the forward pocket between the rolls.

. edge'of the platen, the plate .isl withdrawn from beneath such edge. Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section throughthe apparatus. Fig. 2 is a section on the line casting or rolling member supported upon a i pair of1 driven rolls 2, 2, and 3 is a sizing roll preferably water cooled and supported in a suitable framework 4. This framework is adjustable by means of the pivoted screws 5 for swinging the brackets 6 up and down and so regulating the distance between the roll 3 and the rolling member l. The body,v

of glass 7 is poured into a pocket between the two rolls, the ends of which are closed by the plates 8. This apparatus is shown only in a diagrammatic' way, and requires no furc ther explanation, in View of the disclosure in .my patent heretofore referred `to, it being understood that the rolls 2, 2 are driven and so drive the rolling member 1, and that the sizing roll 3 is driven in any suitable manner. I The sheet of glass 9 formed between the rolls first passes over the water cooled platen l() and then over the rolls 11, the platen and rolls together constituting a runway which leads into the leer 12. This leer is of the roller ty e arranged to permit a gradual cooling of the glass sheets as they pass therethrough until they are thoroughly annealed, such sheets being cut into sections as they emerge at the far end of the leer. A transverse shaft 13 extends across from one bracket 6 to the other bracket and carries` a worm for operating the worm wheels 14 which are swiveled to the brackets 6 and Serve to adjust such brackets vertically. This shaft 13 acts as a support for a pair of brackets 15, which in turn carry a transverse shaft 16. This shaft has keyed thereto a pair of arms 17to which are pivoted the hangers 18. The hangers are riveted at their lower ends to a plate 19 which has another late 20 hinged to its lower edge. The full lines in Fi 1 indicates these parts in one position, w ile the dotted lines indicate'the parts in another shaft 16 is provi ed with a handle 21 having an extension 22 carrying the counterweight 23. This counterweight normally tends to hold the parts in the position Shown in full lines. l

osition. The end 'of the Y Supported upon a transverse tube 24 and the angle 25 are a pair of guide or cam strips 23 having their ends curved downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1 and adapted to engage the end of the plate 20.

When a sheet of glass is about to be cast, but before the body 7 is supplied between the rolls, the handle 21 is swung to the left, causing the plate 20 to move to the position indicated in dotted lines. Itis guided in this movement, t'irst, by the curved end of the cam strips 26 and then by the surface of the platen 1() andthe surface of the roll 1. When the body of glass 7 is poured into the pocket between the rolls, the lower portion ofsuch glass lows over the inner end of the plate 20 and, as the sheet is rolled out between the rolls, the operator swings the handle 21 to the right so that the end of the sheet 20 continues beneath the end of the glass sheet until such end is guided onto the platen 10. As the glass sheet moves forward still further, the handle 21 is operated more rapidly so that the plate 20 is withdrawn from beneath the glass and reaches theposition shown in 'full lines, at which point it will be maintained by the counterweight 23. YIhe plate 20 not only serves the function of guiding the end ofthe glass sheet over the joint between the roll 1 and. the right hand end of the platen 10, but also serves to chill the lower surface of the glass, s6 4that after the glass passes on to the rolls 11, it has no tendency to turn downward between the rolls.

When very wide sheets of glass are to be rolled, it .may be desirable to make the plate 20 .in several sect-ions, as indicated in Fig. 3, the plate here being made up of the three sections 27, 27, 27 which are mounted upon the shaft 16 by means of the arms 28, the hangers 29 and the plates 30..

Fi e illustrates a modification in which a diiigerent means is employed for withdraw- 'ing the guiding plate 31 rom the rolls 1 and 3. In this construction, the left hand end of the plate is hinged to a chain 32 mounted Afor movement around sprockets on the shafts 33 and 34, the shaft 34 being rotated by means ofthe hand wheel 35. I As the sheet is formed, the hand wheel 3 5, is rotated andthe plate 31 moved to theleft, lits lower end following the surface of the roll 1 and that of the platen 36 until the lass is upon the platen, after which the han wheel 35 is rotated still faster to withdraw the plate along the line of movement of the upper flight of the chain 32 and out of the way ot the advancing end of the glass sheet.

Various other means might be employed for giving the plate 31 its movements, and if desired, this might be made automatic by providing mechanical operating means between the shaft which operates the plate and actuating means moving in timed relation with the, rolls 1 and 3.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate modifications of the guide plates. The plates 37 of Fig. 5 being arranged so that their lower edges are concave, the edges of the plates 38 in Fig. 6 being convex and the edges of the plates 39 in Fig. 7 being inclined or tapered.v

What I claim is:v

1. The combination with a pair of substantially horizontal glass sheet forming rolls and a runway in advance thereof and extending laterally, of means for guiding the advancing end of the glass sheet formed between the rolls onto the` runway comprising, a plate in advance of the rolls, a support therefor to which the plate is hinged,

and means for moving the plate up into the pass between the rolls with its lower side in contact with the lower roll, and for withdrawing the plate from said pass with the front end of thel glass sheet which is formed supported on the plate.

2. The combination with a pair of substantially horizontal glass sheet forming rolls and a runway in advance thereof and extending laterally, of means for guiding the advancing end of the glass sheet formed between the rolls onto the runway comprising a plate also in advance of the rolls, adapted to be moved into the pass between the rolls and receive the end of the glass sheet formed therebetween, and operating means for moving the plate into said pass and for withdrawing it from beneath the end of said sheet after such end has been guided onto the runway, said plate being hin ed at one edge to said operating means, ancgl having its other edge positioned so that it rests upon and is guided by the runway and the lower roll durmgl its movement into the pass between the ro s.

3. The combination with a pair of substantially horizontal glass sheet forming rolls and a runway in advance thereof and extending laterally, of means for guiding the advancing end of the glass sheet formed be tween the rolls onto the runway comprising, a plate also in advance of the rolls, adapted to be moved into the pass between the rolls. and receive the end ot' the glass sheet formed therebetweemand operating means for movbalanced, so that it normally holds said plate in withdrawn'position spaced above the runway.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of January 1927.

LEE snownas. 

